Dow Bay Area Family Y Child Development Center

Our family has been members since we moved to Bay City in 1977. Our children enjoyed the Y programs growing up. As aging adults now, we love the classes that are keeping us both moving! We have both made many friendships at the Y. The facilities are clean, the staff are welcoming and it is affordable. 😉

I love that it’s always clean and never crowded. The staff are friendly and treat everyone with kindness and respect. What really stands out is how the Y gives back — feeding kids year-round and creating a place that feels safe and welcoming for everyone. It’s a genuine community, not just a gym.

At first, I loved the Y's summercamp program, when it was run by another supervisor and Mr Troy (who truly cared about the kids and enjoyed them, as well as interacted with them and made each kid feel special) worked there. My son thrived and they even awarded him with the "camper of the week" acknowledgment, several years ago. I even gave a rave review to fellow parents who have children there now. I wouldn't now. Things have gone downhill in the childcare department. The employees look understaffed and most just stand there and don't interact with the kids hands on. They don't look like they enjoy being there. I have met a couple good counselors but they appear to be overworked & possibly compensating for everyone else's lack of enthusiasm and teamwork mentality. My kid is a typically happy, consistently kind-hearted, deeply caring, most polite, empathic & sensitive soul. So, when we were talking on the way home from the Y and I'd asked him how his day was, and he responded with, "Today kind of sucked, mama." And, my son asks me daily at his Christian school drop off to turn down my mellow country music before he opens the door in case the lyrics are less than positive; that was the first time he said the word, sucked. Another kid punched and kicked my son, and no write ups nor talks to the boy were done, like procedure called for. On the same day, my son also got shoved hard by another kid, and absolutely nothing was done or said, again. He also got verbally abused and bullied, but my son said he didn't think the employees/"counselors" saw those parts. Even if they don't have enough staff to cover eyes on everyone simultaneously, at least DO SOMETHING for the kid in pain and anguish when they come up to you for help! It is your job. The Y's summercamp program offers no real learning, just different areas of play centers. And the kids are pretty much left to fend for themselves a lot, my kid says. And they're supposed to at least protect your children from harm's way. Now, my kid has been in Martial Arts for a few years, but he's that inherently kind and controlled, that he chose to reach out to an adult and retrain himself from defending himself. He did not use his physical training, just the mental discipline part. And other than the forced apology from 1 of the kids, only bcz I showed up to have words the next day after the 2 big physical incidents that Were witnessed and done nothing about, no apologies were extended out to Donnie nor me from the Y's supervisor or administrator at all. That's their show of appreciation for my loyalty and submission of all their rules for a total of 7.5 years at the Y? Pros: They do go on field trips every Friday. They've gotten less fun over the years, at least in my son's opinion. They schedule swimming twice a week, what kid doesn't enjoy that. Meals and snacks are included. Cost of field trips is already included in the total price.

The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the equipment in both the upstairs gym and the 24 hour gym is very clean and high quality. The locker room is always very clean and so are the steam room, sauna, and showers. It’s also in a very convenient location.

I dont know how many more times I can give this place a chance. Wonderful facility, consistently terrible staff. There are those who do a great job, offer great hospitality, as the YMCA is known for.. not this place.